Sri Lanka’s Christian Solidarity Movement has criticized a call by Sri Lankan bishops for the release of jailed ex-presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, saying that the appeal fails to recognize “the breakdown of the rule of law” in the nation.

pic courtesy of: Archdiocese of Colombo

“This is one of the best examples of the crackdown on political opponents and dissenters by the government,” Ruki Fernando of the Christian Solidarity Movement told ENInews.

Fernando expressed concern however about the tenor of the church statement, saying it “failed to recognise political victimisation and the glaring example of breakdown of the rule of law and crackdown on dissent” happening now on the Indian Ocean island.

He said the statement “hides behind populist and chauvinistic forces by referring to [Fonseka's] ‘valuable services’”. Fernando noted that when he was the top military leader the “services” had included, “the killings of tens of thousands of Tamils, the journalists he attacked and the huge human tragedy he caused”.

Nearly 100 000 people, including thousands of civilians died in the protracted ethnic conflict that culminated in massive causalities in the final battles in May 2009. - courtesy: cathnewsasia.com -